Ornate narrow mouth frog – Amphibians of Okinawa by Shawn Miller

Posted on October 17, 2017 by Admin11

The Ornate narrow-mouth frog (Microhyla okinavensis) is found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. It is one of the smallest frogs found on Okinawa. It can be extremely hard to find due to its small size.

Scientific name: Microhyla okinavensis
Common name: Ornate narrow mouth frog, ant frog and ornate pygmy frog
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, mountain slopes, drainage ditches and farm fields.
Diet: Ants, termites and small insects
Average size: 15mm-25mm
Color: brown

Ornate narrow mouth frog -Okinawa © Shawn Miller

I have found this beautiful frog in the Yanbaru forest, local parks, drainage ditches and even common walking trails in central Okinawa.

Old grown forest -Yanbaru forest © Shawn Miller

This small frog is a master of camouflage. I often find it on rocks, plants, and leaves during my night walks.

Ornate rice frog -Ryukyu Islands © Shawn Miller

Breeding season takes place in the month of April.

Mating ornate frogs © Shawn Miller

The fogs take advantage of farmers buckets. They lay their eggs in small pools of water.

Tadpoles of Okinawa by Shawn Miller © Shawn Miller

Tadpoles, Yamada Okinawa © Shawn Miller

Ornate rice frog -Onna village © Shawn Miller

Photographed on a white portable studio for the Meet your neighbours project – dedicated to connecting people worldwide with the wildlife in their community –

Meet your neighbours project by Shawn Miller © Shawn Miller

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

This site is also designed to help people identify the beautiful animals of Okinawa, basically to serve as an online nature reference guide. If you would like to make a contribution to support my mission, please click on the donation link paypal.me/maketheswitch4nature

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

The Coconut Crab – Terrestrial hermit crabs of the Ryukyu Islands

Posted on July 5, 2017 by Admin11

Coconut crabs are the largest terrestrial hermit crabs of the Ryukyu Islands. They are scarce on the Island of Okinawa due to over-hunting. They are sold in local fish markets for high prices. The meat of the coconut crab is sought after and considered a delicacy. No conservation programs are set in place to protect this native crab. It is currently listed as data deficient on the IUCN list of Threatened species.

Scientific name: Birgus latro
Common name: Coconut crab, robber crab and palm thief
Distribution: Majority of the Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Coastal forest
Diet: Seeds, fruit and carrion
Average size: 20-40 centimeters
Color: Purple, blue or orange

Coconut crab- Okinawa © Shawn Miller

How to tell the difference between a coconut crab and a hermit crab. They look very similar to the blueberry hermit crab at first, but the coconut crab has protective spines near its eyes. Hermit crabs do not have these spines since they have adapted to retreat into a shell to protect their eyes. The coconut crab does not depend on a seashell as it gets larger. I still have yet to find a juvenile coconut crab adapting with a seashell.

spines that protect the eyes © Shawn Miller

Terrestrial hermit crabs live in the coastal forest where the treeline and coastline meet. They are the caretakers of the coastal forest. They mainly feed on plants, flowers, fruits, and seeds in the treeline. They also help disperse seeds in the forest, specifically the screw pine tree seeds.

The Climber- Adult coconut crab © Shawn Miller

Pandanus trees with spiky sword-shaped leaves provide a perfect environment for the Coconut crabs to thrive.

Pandus odifer – favorite food © Shawn Miller

A juvenile climbing on Pandanus tree searching for food.

Juvenile coconut crab © Shawn Miller

Okinawa’s harsh limestone coastline. The female must make the journey over this rough terrain to lay her eggs in the ocean.

Coconut crab – Onna village © Shawn Miller

Photographed on a white portable outdoor studio for the Meet Your neighbours project. ( Connecting people worldwide with the wildlife in their community )

Coconut crab- MYN technique © Shawn Miller

In the 1970’s and 1980’s, taxidermy was popular in the Ryukyu Islands. I still find coconut crabs displayed on walls in restaurants and hotels.

Coconut crab mounted © Shawn Miller

Meet Crabzilla! – The most aggressive crab I have encountered on Okinawa. Coconut crabs are fearless and have bone crushing power. You do not want to get caught by the claw, You play you will Pay!!

Crabzilla -Okinawa © Shawn Miller

Meet the Bone Crusher! This monster crab was over four pounds. Do not pick these crabs up if you do not know what you are doing. They can crack bones.

Coconut crabs © Shawn Miller

Coconut crabs spend their day hiding in burrows. They venture out searching for food late at night. This juvenile was found crossing the road.

Let’s dance- Coconut crab © Shawn Miller

Have a great day! Please consider making a small donation to support my mission.

Akamata – The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

Posted on June 4, 2017 by Admin11

The Ryukyu odd-tooth snake (Lycodon semicarinatus) is a non-venomous snake found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. They are fairly common here on Okinawa and are usually found at night. The Akamata is a natural enemy of the venomous Habu snake. They are one of the few snakes capable of feeding on venomous pit vipers. More effort should be focused on conserving this native snake for this specific reason. This beautiful snake has been overlooked and needs to be protected. Sadly I see more dead on the road than alive.

- Scientific name: Lycodon semicarinatus
- Local name: Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake

- Distribution: Ryukyu Islands

- Habitat: Forests, drainage ditches, and housing areas

- Diet: Snakes, lizards, frogs, snakes, birds, baby sea turtles, and rodents.

- Average size: 100cm -180cm

Color: Black, orange with a yellow belly.

They are often found crossing the road at night.

Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

When threatened they pull back, stand high and prepare to strike! They will bite when threatened.

Akamata – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

This beautiful juvenile was photographed on a white for the Meet Your Neighbours Project. (Connecting People Worldwide with the Wildlife in their Community)

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake -MYN © Shawn Miller

An albino specimen photographed in captivity at the local zoo.

Albino Akamata snake

The slow and low perspective found crossing the road at night.

Crossing the road – Ryukyu odd-tooth snake © Shawn Miller

The small snakes often feed on small lizards. This beauty ate a common gecko tail first.

Akamata feeding on a gecko – tail first © Shawn Miller

A large Akamata feeding on an Okinawa tree frog.

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake feeding © Shawn Miller

A juvenile Akamata feeding on an Okinawa tree lizard.

Ryukyu odd-tooth feeding © Shawn Miller

The Akamata is one of the few snakes that feed on sea turtle hatchlings in northern Okinawa.

Akamata – feeding on sea turtles © Shawn Miller

This was my first time seeing a juvenile akamata pull back and puff out its head to resemble the diamond shape of a venomous pit viper.

Is the coincidence or mimicry? I know this is a common occurrence with other non-venomous snakes around the world. I believe this juvenile snake saw me as a threat.

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake puffing its head © Shawn Miller

Mimicry moment © Shawn Miller

People often ask me what is the purpose of conservation photography? Having the ability to affect some form of positive change in the environment and make a global difference with the photographs. Hopefully, the images will inspire people to care more about nature and make a positive difference in the environment.

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

The Hallowell’s tree frog – Okinawa

Posted on April 2, 2017 by Admin11

The Hallowell’s tree frog ( Hyla hallowellii ) is found on Okinawa, Amami and Tokunoshima Island.

Scientific name: Hyla hallowellii
Common name: Hallowell’s tree frog
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, grassy areas and farm fields near water.
Diet: Insects
Average size: 30mm-40mm
Color: Bright green with a white belly

The Hallowell’s tree frog is fairly common but not often seen. The beautiful frog lives high above the ground in trees making it difficult to find and photograph.

The Hallowell’s tree frog

They are easy to locate during mating season. The male produces a fairly high pitch squeak sound over and over.

The Hallowell’s tree frog -vocal sac

The Hallowell’s tree frog -mating call

The Hallowell’s tree frog

Let’s protect the wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands.

My Mission: To Document and Preserve the Wildlife of the Ryukyu Islands

Your donations will help worldwide conservation initiatives as well as bring solutions to the worldwide pollution issues on our beautiful shorelines. Thank you for your support. Shawn M Miller.

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Amphibians of the Ryukyu Islands

Posted on February 27, 2017 by Admin11

The Ryukyu Kajika frog ( Buergeria japonica ) is found throughout the Ryukyu Islands. It is the most common frog found on Okinawa.

Scientific name: Buergeria japonica
Common name: Ryukyu Kajika frog
Distribution: Ryukyu Islands
Habitat: Forests, mountain slopes, drainage ditches and farm fields.
Diet: Small Insects
Average size: 25mm-40mm
Color: Olive green, brown and golden yellow

This small frog is a master of camouflage. I often find it on rocks, plants, trees, drainage ditches and even our trash.

Ryukyu Kajika frog on tatami mat

Ryukyu Kajika frog -macro

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Kume Island

Ryukyu Kajika frog

Ryukyu Kajika frog- manhole cover

This is the only frog on Okinawa that is capable of living on the shoreline next to the ocean. I have photographed them as close as five feet away from the saltwater.

Ryukyu Kajika frog- skin discoloration

Beach-dwelling Kajika frog

A beautiful Kajika frog in the jungles of Iriomote Island.

Kajika frog -Iriomote Island

Photographed on white for the Meet Your Neighbours Project

Ryukyu Kajika frog – MYN

The males turn a golden yellow during mating season. The season stretches from April to September on Okinawa.

Ryukyu Kajika frog – Amami Island

Ryukyu Kajika frog – mating

Ryukyu Kajika frog – drainage ditch

The eggs are laid in slow-moving and still water sources. The eggs will develop into tadpoles and eventually transform into baby frogs. I often find tadpoles thriving in farming water buckets.

Juvenile Kajika frog

The summer months provide a great opportunity for natural predators.The frogs come together in large numbers.

Crab feeding on frogs

Pryer’s keelback feeding

Never give up

Never give up -Okinawa, Japan

If you see frogs, there is a possibility that snakes are nearby. The snakes patiently wait for frogs in drainage ditches and still water sources. The Kajika frog is the Hime habu’s favourite meal.

Hime habu – GoPro

Have a great day!

Meet Your Neighbours project – Okinawa, Japan

Posted on October 22, 2016 by Admin11

Founded in 2009, Meet Your Neighbours is a worldwide photographic initiative created by Niall Benvie and Clay Bolt. The project is dedicated to reconnecting people with the wildlife on their own doorsteps and enriching their lives in the process. These creatures and plants are vital to people: they represent the first, and for some, the only contact with wild nature we have. Yet too often they are overlooked, undervalued.

There are seventy-five worldwide contributors to this powerful project. I am currently the Japan contributor to this project. All images are used for conservation awareness and educational purposes. Below are some of my favourite images.

Okinawan green tree frog

Percnon planissimum – crab

Cherry blossom -Mt Yaedake

Crabs with beach trash homes

Porcelain crab ( Petrolisthes hastatus ) -Okinawa

Ryukyu odd-tooth snake ( Dinodon semicarinatum )

Scopimera ryukyuensis – Ryukyu Islands

Fern – Ryukyu Islands

Blueberry hermit crabs (Coenobita purpureus)

Gray faced buzzard eagle

Princess habu -MYN technique

Charybdis japonica -Yagaji Island

American bullfrog – Izena Island

Chinese cowrie

Okinawan Habu- MYN field studio technique

Okinawan mud lobster

Sesarmops intermedius

Air breathing marine slug

Unidentified earthworm – MYN and under Blue light Kume Island

Hawkmoth – MYN

Geograpsus grayi

Blueberry hermit crabs (Coenobita purpureus)

Have a great day!

Protecting Okinawa’s endangered beetles – Yanbaru forest

Posted on September 21, 2016 by Admin11

Poaching has been a big problem in northern Okinawa. The endemic animals of the Yanbaru forest are highly valued in the exotic pet trade market. The Okinawan Ministry of the Environment and the wildlife protection center are working hard this year to prevent the poaching of these endangered species. The Okinawan’s are spreading the word in the news, local papers, flyers and even monitoring the forest roads at night.

Poaching flyer -Yanbaru

August through September is when people search the forest for the rare Yanbaru long-armed scarab beetle (Cheirotonus jambar). If you see anyone taking this protected species please contact the authorities. I have yet to photograph a live animal. It is one of the rarest beetles in the world.

Rarest beetle in Japan -Yanbaru long armed scarab beetle, wildlife center

The giant Okinawan stag beetle (Dorcus titanus okinawanus) is also a high prized specimen in the pet trade.

Giant okinawan stag beetles

Giant okinawan stag beetle

Beetle collectors use fruit filled net traps to lure in the beetles.

Yanbaru beetle trap (Dorcus titanus okinawanus)

The beetles hooked shaped arms get caught in the netting.

Giant stag beetle (Dorcus titanus okinawanus)

Over the years, I have found a few traps with dead beetles attached.

Female okinawan stag beetle

In 2019 I found this undescribed beetle in the Yanbaru forest.

Unidentified beetle ,Yanbaru

Beetle collecting is popular on Okinawa. Its important to be familiar with the specific beetles that are protected species. Let’s protect the wildlife of the Yanbaru forest for future generations.

The Light & Motion Stella 2000 rocks part 1 – Okinawa, Japan

Posted on September 5, 2016 by Admin11

The Stella 2000 offers lightweight professional lighting for photographers and videographers. It delivers 2000 lumens of beautiful wide light on high power. It is waterproof to a depth of 100 meters and extremely durable.

My favorite features of the Stella 2000

Waterproof to 100 meters
Can be mounted on the camera hot-shoe, light stand, loc-line arms or ball mounts.
Quick adjustable power output control
Fast charging and the ability to use the light when it’s charging

I tested the Stella 2000 in the humid jungle and on the shorelines of northern Okinawa. I used it as a spotting light, hiking light, camera modeling light and video light. I tested the light with the 120-beam angle with no modifiers, with custom-made soft-boxes attached, studio umbrellas and with the combination of on-off camera flash.

I concentrated on the reptiles, amphibians and land crabs of northern Okinawa. Below are some of my favorite photographs.